Little Pink Studio

Tuesday tutorial: A little paper play

Hello! I hope your week is off to a great start! Today's tutorial is a bit less of a tutorial and more of some simple tips and such. 

One of my favorite things is when the gals in my family get together to craft. It's always a really special time, and I wish we made it happen more often than we do. However, because my Grandma (now 87 years old!) has limited dexterity, and my sister in law is very new to crafting, we will a lot of times use kits. Often I will just put together kits myself, but sometimes, I will grab some simple looking scrapbook or paper crafting kits from the scrapbook store. Of course, then I bring out all the vintage things I can find in my studio that I think will coordinate. I always love to add the vintage elements and mixed media things that I love. So today's projdect started out as a simple scrapbook kit, and I've added paint, sanded papers, added vintage ephemera, and bits of vintage lace, as well as some super cute images. 

Unfortunately, I could not find the packaging for the scrapbook items, so I do not remember who made these products, but I can say the scrapbook itself was made simply from kraft card stock with regular copy paper stapled inside for the pages. Super simple, and something you could easily create with materials on hand. 

On the cover, I added some blue paint. Note: I almost always use latex paint, you know, regular old house paint. I love buying the sample pots in all sorts of pretty colors, and I find that latex paint dries super fast on paper. I also like the texture of the paint a little better than acrylic paints. 

I added some layers of both the scrapbook elements as well as some vintage book paper, a vintage doily, and vintage lace. The gorgeous blue rose element was a scrapbook element that I sanded to make it look older. I loved the little girl image so much, I actually used it twice in my book! 

On the inside cover, I simply printed an image I loved and adhered it with a bit of glue and some gold dot washi tape. 

This page has the sweet image I shared here on the blog last Friday, some vintage book paper that has been painted over, a very old paper doily, and a scrapbook embellishment. 

I sanded the rose down to take away the glossy finish, inked the edges a bit, and stamped some pretty script words. (the words blend more than they show in this photo)

Here's that image again. (this time I printed her much larger and added a vintage lace bow to her dress)

I used layers of the gold script washi tape to create an extra layer over the polka dot scrapbook paper. 

More paper doilies, and washi tape as a background here too. 

Old book pages, some rub ons, printed images, paint, vintage lace, and a great vintage doily make up these pages. 

See that vintage netting with the flowers wrapped around the vellum envelope in this photo? I have had that for years! I think I got it from a Teresa Collins class at CHA several years ago. Ha. Talk about hoarding, right? 

For these two pages, the scrapbook paper that came with the kit was a dark brown floral paper. I used a blue paint and painted over most of the page. I added some book pages, painted and inked over those a bit, then added the printed images. 

I made the rose/doily embellishment a pocket by simply adhering the bottom and sides to the background pages, but leaving the top open. That allowed me to slide in come little envelops for extra notes. 

The background pages here are just printed book pages again covered with paint. I added some washi tape for added texture. I adhered the little girl holding flowers so that she would overlap slightly onto the next page. I added another envelope over part of her image and added some scrapbook embellishments as well as some vintage lace. 

And how cute are these two "sitting" on a doily wall? 

So, that's it. A fun project to do, plus I loved taking the scrapbook elements and mixing them into all of the vintage stuff I love. I also loved that everyone's book turned out a little different, as they used other materials and had ideas of their own. My sister in law adds photos to hers to make it more of an actual scrapbook. My favorite thing is to watch my Grandma just take off and do her own thing. It's precious. 

Happy crafting, Cerri xoxo

A mini book

Hello, and happy Friday! Any exciting plans for the weekend? I think the Mr. and I are going to go see Oz, but other than that, I'm planning a weekend in the studio. I have some ideas, and finally am feeling up to creating again. Yay! 

So, this is the little book I made while in Nashville with my Mom visiting my daughter. We were all only allowed to bring one craft bag, so that was a fun challenge. I also bought a few things at the Archivers there, and I wanted to use a mixture of some cute Valentine things I found there in conjunction with my favorite, go to vintage items. 

There are a lot of photos, so I'll try to talk less. :)

I used used canvas for my pages, and just sewed them together by hand with embroidery floss. Easy, peasy. 

So that's my little book.  liked the mixture of the vintage things with the new scrapbook embellishments. As I was working, my Mom was working on something else, but liked what I was doing so I quickly put together a kit for her and snapped a bunch of photos with her phone so she could make one too. I haven't heard if she made hers yet though...So, Mom, have you? :)

Have a lovely weekend, I'll be back Monday, and I WILL have a new tutorial for you on Tuesday. 

And just in case you're working on something Easter related this weekend, this might inspire. 

xo, Cerri

A little catch up...

Hello! Anyone out there, still? I certainly did not mean to disappear on you, but I have had pneumonia, and am just now recovering. Wow, I really don't remember ever being so sick before, that was really rough. Hopefully, I am on the mend now, and will be feeling 100% again soon. So today, let's do a little catch up, shall we? 

The above photo is my newest vintage cake topper. This one is chalkware, from the 40's, and I love it. I have a small collection of these, and like to bring them out in February for a bit of Valentine decor. 

Here's a few of the others. I like to think these toppers all belonged to sweet couples whose marriage's lasted forever. :) 

The week before Valentine's day my Mom, niece, and I went to visit my oldest daughter in Nashville. We rented a nice little 2 bedroom suite hotel and spent some time crafting. It was such a lovely weekend, and I really cherish the times I am able to get together with the gals in my family and spend time creating, and laughing, and just being together. 

I finished 2 projects that weekend, and this canvas is one of them. 

It's just a little heart sampler I made for my studio. I used a burlap canvas I found at Hobby Lobby last year, some old felted wool, bits of ruffles and lace, and some lovely gold thread for a bit of stitching. 

The felted wool came from the lovely Lisa, and the sweet image I purchased at this wonderful shop. 

I also created a sweet little Valentine lace book, and of course we did a bit of antiquing! I'll share those things this week, so I think I will do a bit more catching up this week, and start doing weekly tutorials again next week. I hope you will join me!

How have you been? What have you been creating lately? I would love to see, leave me a link to what you've been working on!

xo, Cerri

Forever Friends

Hello! I hope you're having a lovely weekend. I wanted to share something with you that I made my Mom for Christmas. In my studio I have this sweet little licensed piece by Nicol Sayre that my Mom really likes, and since it has been retired I haven't been able to find one for her. So, I decided to make my own version of it. If you've read my blog for very long, you know I'm quite close to my Mom, she's not only my Momma, but also my best friend. So, I thought this was quite fitting. The dolls I chose to use represent a mom and daughter, but also "forever friends". 

It took me quite a few hours to put together, but it was so much fun! For my base, I covered a box with vintage flocked wallpaper and rows of lovely ruffles I purchased from Julie Collings shop.  I also used lots of vintage millinery flowers as well as some new ones. All of the new flowers were spritzed with Glimmer Mist and edged with Stickles glitter glues. I used a box base so that my Mom could store special keepsakes inside. 

I also used some vintage stamens, and lots of pink sequins on the arch. 

Both dolls are vintage Nancy Ann dolls I've had in my collection for quite a while. I have lots of these sweet dolls, some I display, and some I've kept with the thought of creating something with them. 

I added some vintage blossoms embellished with Stickles to their hair. 

I loved the sweet details of their dresses. The "mom" doll's dress is flocked, and oh so sweet. 

I loved making this sweet piece for my Mom, and I hope she will treasure it. I'll have to admit, once I was finished creating this, it was a bit hard for me to give away. Ha. That's ok. I need to make another with 3 dolls for myself and my 2 girls, as I hope we'll be forever friends too. 

Tonight my Mom and niece are coming for a sleepover. We're going to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the publication of Pride and Prejudice with an all day movie marathon. (We'll watch the different versions) I think there will be copious amounts of tea, sandwiches, and pastries involved too. Can't wait! Are  you doing anything to celebrate? 

Check back with me, I've been working all weekend on packaging all sorts of sweet Valentine goods for the shop. I can't wait to show you what I have up my sleeve!

xo, Cerri

 

Craft-a-thon with my niece

Hello! Hope you're having a lovely weekend. Before we get too far into the new year, I wanted to share with you my craft-a-thon week I had with my niece. Every year my niece and nephew come spend time with us during the Christmas season and we do things like bake cookies, make gingerbread houses, craft, watch movies, and drive around drinking cocoa and looking at lights. This year, my niece stayed a whole week with us, and we did some serious crafting. :) Here she is in my studio. She stayed in her jammies and wore a Christmas hat most of the time. 

We made more wine glass snow globes. I think I liked hers best of all. If you can't tell, there's a little mouse and bunny kissing inside her globe. 

We also made this one as a gift for my Mom's birthday. Isn't it sweet? Desi and I did a holiday swap with my sweet friend Lilia and her daughter which was lots of fun! (My niece's first swap!) The girls swapped handmade ornaments and little trinkets for each other, and Lilia and I swapped ornaments and art supply goodies. 

A few more shots of our creations and fun. That bottom photo is the silly amount of marshmallows we like to put in our hot cocoa. I can spoil her that way, because I'm just the aunt. 

I cherish these times with her and hope that she always will also. 

xo, Cerri 

PS, As a few of you have already figured out, I extended the free shipping sale on qualifying orders through the weekend. It will end on Monday at midnight. I'll announce the winner of the giveaway then too, so don't forget to enter if you haven't done so yet. I love reading about your favorite Christmas gifts. 

Before we get too far into November...

I wanted to share a few snippets from our Halloween. This is my youngest daughter as she headed out to her first Halloween party in college. Isn't she the cutest Raggedy Ann? 

It's a tradition that every year my Mom brings my niece and nephew to our house for Halloween festivities. They live on a farm in a rural area, so they like to come to our house for trick or treating and all the other fun stuff that comes with Halloween. I will be sad when they are too grown up for it as I love that they do this every year. 

My niece was a super cute scarecrow this year. Isn't she a doll? I am so glad she didn't feel too old for this since she just turned 12. 

I am still finding hay everywhere I look in my house. :)

And this boy, oh does he have our hearts. He is the silliest, but most adorable little guy I know. 

My Mom was wanting some "serious" photos from him, but I couldn't help but just keep snapping away at each of his silly faces. 

We always try to fit in time for pumpkin carving too. Love how they turned out! I texted Kenz a photo of my husband helping the kids scoop out the insides asking her if that brought back her own memories of all the years we did this with our own children. These are some of those special times that kids remember. The family time and traditions, it's so important. 

And speaking of our Kenz, here she is getting ready for her Halloween festivities. We don't get to see her on Halloween anymore as her college is 3 hours away, but she texted me a photo as she was heading out, and I grabbed the other from her facebook page. She and her roommates were all Disney princesses this year. I think she makes a pretty awesome Snow White, don't you? 

Oh, and I have some really exciting news to share about our girl. I'll be back with that soon. :)

I hope your Halloween was lovely, and you made some lasting memories. 

Cerri xo

PS, Just a quick note to let you that I am planning a Little Pink Holiday event again here on my blog, so please stay tuned for details to come very soon. 

And if you're wanting some sweet images, I've been posting a new image for every "like" we get on the facebook page until we hit 700. 

 

Currently...

Hello! I hope you've all had a lovely week. Here's a few things I have been up to. My husband hung my new ruffled shades from Ikea in my studio. I've finally been working in there again. Sheesh, it's been a long time coming, but was pushed aside for so many different reasons. Hoping to have it finally complete SOON! Still trying to figure out what to put in the long frame at the top of the wall there..

Also in the studio I've been trying to figure out what to do with my vintage prom dress collection. I've been thinking of hanging them across the fireplace...not sure yet though. It's so funny, they're all too small to fit on my antique and vintage mannequins! So they have to be displayed somehow on their own.

 The other thing I'm currently working on is a large shop update. I've been taking and editing all sorts of photos. So many new (and new, old) things! -Like the vintage ribbons and trim above. Don't you love that sweet, vintage peachy colored fabric trim? Definitely keeping some of that for myself. :)

Gah! And don't you love these super sweet old store stock butter cartons? I discovered these sweeties at the 127 sale. I think they would make the cutest packaging. 

So, I'm planning on a shop update on Monday, the 27th. I'll pop on and post some previews over the weekend. 

And lastly, my baby girl starts her first day of college on Monday, so there's a bit of girly shopping in our future this weekend as well. 

What about you? What have you been up to? Any exciting weekend plans?

Much love, Cerri xo

More on the birthday box swap...

Hello! I've been meaning to share with you all the boxes I received clear back in June, and things kept getting in my way, but I wanted to be sure to share the lovely boxes I received. I received this box from Kris, we've been partners a few times and it's always nice to swap with her. She made her box to look like a little birthday cake. Isn't it cute? 

And she of course filled the box with lots of fun things to play with as well as a sweet collage and party cone. So cute. Thanks so much, Kris! (these are her photos, that I borrowed from her blog)

Next up was a lovely box from Diane. I was touched at how much Diane worked to make my box in the whites and neutral colors that I love, which I know is not at all her normal color palette of choice. She did a great job, don't you think? 

She too, filled her box with lovely little treats. Thank you, Diane! (these photos were also borrowed from Diane)

You can see the boxes I made for these lovely ladies here.  I think I also mentioned that my Mom joined in on this swap as well, and since she doesn't have a blog, I thought I would share her boxes for her. 

Mom wanted her boxes to look like little wrapped presents, and I think she did a lovely job. 

She filled her boxes with things she thought her partners would enjoy. 

I love all of the vintage items she used on this one! So sweet!

Mom and I worked on our boxes together, and that is something I always cherish. I love being able to sit and create pretty things with her. It's neat that we love all the same things, but really I just love spending that special time with her. Isn't that what crafting is all about? 

Cerri xoxo

She graduated!

What a whirlwind the past couple of weeks have been! My sweet daughter graduated high school this past weekend! Time flies, it really does. It seems like only yesterday she was always cuddled in my lap, or following along behind me as she's always been a "momma's girl". Now, she's ready to spread her wings and take on the world. It's what we raise them to do, but it certainly isn't that easy to just let go, is it? 

I'm very proud of her and know that there are so many wonderful things in her future! Luckily, (for me) this one will be attending college very close to home for at least the first year and still living at home. (this was taken right before the kids had to be inside for the line up. My daughter on the left and her best friend since 4th grade on the right) 

Love this shot of her looking back just after they had been announced graduates and tossed their caps in the air. I held it together pretty well. :)

She graduated on Thursday evening and we had her party at the lake on Saturday. We planned the party together and she wanted an old fashioned country picnic theme. Our inspiration pinboard was here. Of course I was crazy busy, and did not get nearly as many photos as I had hoped, but here are a few shots of the party stuff...

On each table we used a traditional red/white gingham table cloth and we had vintage blue mason jars filled with white flowers everywhere. Each table also had one of her senior photos framed and on a little burlap canvas we also put a photo of her as a little girl. 

This was beside the drink station. I had a framed senior photo, and her kindergarten photo as well. For drinks we had old fashioned cokes in the glass bottles, sweet and unsweet tea in mason jars, water, and lemonade for the mason jars as well. 

Trin loves old trucks and I searched for months looking for some old toy trucks to fill with flowers, and in the end I only found this replica, and one vintage wagon type...This seems to be the only one I got a photo of though, and I liked how the wagon turned out better. (she loved them both) It seems old toy trucks are quite collectible these days and even on ebay their quite spendy.  

We used berry baskets for everyone to gather their burgers or chicken sandwhiches. I also had containers of baked beans already prepped so you could grab those for your basket as well.  We had a great little veggie station where everyone could pick their fresh veggies and hold them in the blank cartons we sell in the shop. The silverware was rolled into bandana napkins. 

I embellished a vintage suitcase to hold her cards and gifts. 

We had a photo booth complete with props. We used a wide format polaroid camera to take photos and each guest then put their photo in her guest book with a little message to her. After everyone left, she read all the messages and cried. It was such a sweet memento. 

This was her cupcake tower. Through the years as she was growing up, I collected the Josef birthday angels for her and was thrilled when I was able to find her a graduation angel made by Josef as well. I had meant to make pocket pies for the party as well, but simply ran out of time. So glad we had decided on two different desserts and I had the cupcakes as a back up. 

We finished up the party by renting a projector from Projector123 to have a drive in type movie in the evening. I was so impressed with how well the projector worked! We just hung up a white sheet between two trees, connected the sound and it was an instant outdoor theater! I really could not say enough good things about the projector rental, it was perfect. We also had a popcorn bar with all sorts of toppings for our movie under the stars. I really wish I had more photos, but by this point I was so completely exhausted I couldn't even think about trying to get photos. Ha. 

Anyway, it was a wonderful celebration of our sweet girl, and she and her guests seemed to really enjoy themselves. 

And this is both of my girls this morning as they headed off on a 5 day road trip to celebrate on their own. (posing with leftover props from the photo booth they decided to take along) Trin doesn't know where they are headed, as her sister made her the cutest book with clues to each destination, and it will be a surprise each day. Since she won't be reading my blog I can tell you though that they're headed to Ashville, then to South Carolina, and then to Savannah, GA. (which is one of Trin's favorite places) They will also be making a stop in Atlanta on the way back home. If you want to take a look at the road trip journals, my daughter blogged them this morning before they left. 

Wish I was headed out on a road trip! :) 

(one more of my favorites from her senior photos)

Now, I am going to catch up on shipping, laundry and sleep. 

Be back soon. Cerri xo

PS, The senior photos were done by Hope Photography. I was thrilled with her photos!

Before it is May...

Hello! Every year my Mom and I always put together little Easter baskets for each other filled with the things we love, and I thought I should share that with you before April is over. :) This is what I put together for Mom this year. 

I found this gorgeous light blue pot at Home Goods and that is what I used for her "basket". Of course...not everything would fit inside. 

Here's a close up of those things that wouldn't fit inside. The antique bone dish I found at a wonderful little antique shop in Franklin, TN. And the petite container with the chicken on it? How sweet it is that? I collect things with chicks on them for her as she lives on a farm and has LOTS of chickens. The lipstick is one of my favorite lipsticks, they're the Revlon lip butters. LOVE them. I think she might like this shade. 

And here is a couple close ups of the goodies inside.

Lots of fun stuff for her to play with..including of course, vintage fabric, vintage lace, some embroidered bits, the sweetest vintage wallpaper trim, and lots more. I packed it pretty full! 

What are you working on this week? I've been busy putting together the Spring Beauties journal kits. I'll show you the details on the kits soon, I even embellished some paper pocket portfolios to store all of the wonderful contents of the kit. Can't wait to show you!

Cerri xoxo